Air Travel No-No’s
Road warriors, business travelers or the leisure tourist all use air travel as it typically is the quickest (not always the easiest) mode of transportation for many. Michelle Crouch, a writer with over 20 years of experience and contributor to The New York Times, Real Simple and Reader’s Digest recently shared common-sense reminders of things to do and not to do when traveling on an airplane. Below are a few of her air travel no-no’s:
Don’t remain in your seat the entire flight. Flyers have a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT,) which is a type of blood clot. Catherine Sonquist Forest, MD, a primary care doctor at Stanford University Health Care, said “The most important thing is to try to move around and move your legs at least once every hour.”
Skip the ice in your drink and drink bottled water. Linda Ferguson, a flight attendant for 24 years, said “I would definitely drink bottled water—that’s why they board tons of bottles on an airplane.”
Wear your glasses, ditch the contact lenses. Cabin air is dry and can cause eye irritations.
Don’t turn off the overhead vents. Adjust the vents to medium or high during flight, so airborne germs can be blown away from your personal zone.
Opt no for coffee, tea or booze. Caffeine and alcohol can dehydrate you. Flight attendants always say hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
Advise the flight attendant if you’re not feeling well. Safety is the flight crew’s main priority. Your health and wellbeing are not an inconvenience.
Lastly, microbes, nasty bacteria, and yes lots of germs are everywhere on an aircraft that has not been lightly cleaned between flights or properly sterilized. Here are more no-no’s for air travel:
- Don’t eat food that has fallen on the tray table
- Don’t use the blankets (they might not get washed daily)
- Don’t wear shorts. Wear clothing covering skin that could touch your seat (seat cushions harbor germs)
- Don’t touch the flush button in the bathroom. After washing your hands, use a paper towel to press the flush button and open the door
- Don’t walk around barefoot, especially in the galley or lavatory areas
Remember these helpful tips the next time you embark on an aircraft for healthy and safe travels!